Slat structure for beds and the like



Oct. 9, 1951 E. H. ANDERSON 2,570,743

SLAT STRUCTURE FOR BEDS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 9, 1945 2 SheetsSheet lWWW/ E. H. ANDERSON SLAT STRUCTURE FOR BEDS AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed Jan. 9, 1945 Patented Oct. 9, 1951 SLAT STRUCTURE FOR BEDS ANDTHE LIKE Ernest H. Anderson, Jamestown, N. Y.

Application January 9, 1945, Serial No. 571,975

' A 1 Claim. (Cl. 236) This invention relates to improvements in beds,couches and the like, and more particularly to the frame and slatstructure thereof.

With the exception of periodic change in design and some improvementinthe means for fastening the side rails to the end members, thestructure of beds has undergone little or no development. Today, as fora long period of time, beds consist principally of a pair of end membersconnected by side rails, the side rails having cleats on which to mounta number of spring supporting slats. Since the slats, for the most part,are merely laid in place on the cleats by way of loosely bridging thespace between the side rails, they serve no other purpose than a loosesupport or mounting for a spring and mattress and, in particular, theydo not provide any structural stability or rigidity for the bed frame.Of course, the

relatively loose fasteners or rail hooks commonly employed to secure endboards and rails lend little or no rigidity to the bed frame and allowit to twist out of its normal rectangular shape. In this type ofstructure, it is only after mounting a spring and mattress that the bedframe acquires any stability and will remain in nearly its normalrectangular shape.

. The present invention contemplates a structure that is applicable toany bed or couch frame; that is, any frame that comprises ends connectedby side rails. More particularly, the invention serves both to rigidifya bed frame and constitute an adequate support for a spring andmattress. To this end the invention discloses a frame construction whichconsists of two or more slats rigidly connected by cross members. Theslats are of a length sufficient to span thespace between the side railsof a given bed frame, and their ends are adapted to rest on or belocated above the side rail cleats. Additionally, each frame includesmeans that is adjustable to an extent and in such a manner as totransmit rigidity of the frame to the bed frame. Furthermore, theinvention discloses the use of one or more slat frames that areapplicable to bed or couch frames in such a manner as to accommodate aspring and mattress in either of two positions of use.

The invention, therefore, has for its principal objects provision ofconvenient, inexpensive, removable structures for bed or couch frameswhich serve to rigidify the bed frame and properly support a spring andmattress in either of two positions of use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fullyunderstood from a consideration of the following specification, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings; and in which Fig. l is afragmentary perspective view of a bed frame in which is mounted a slatframe embodying one form of the invention;

application of a single frame fitted with a sufficient number of slatsto provide full spring support;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view similar to that of Fig. 2 showing useof two frames by which to provide full spring support;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view takensubstantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly in section, showing anadjustable member of the slat frame engaged with a cleat of one of theside rails;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 4,showing the adjustable member in inverted position to serve both toengage the rail cleat and cooperate with the slat ends to support theslat frame;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentar perspective view of a bed frame in which theslat frame of the invention occupies a raised position;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially assuggested by line 88 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective View showing a slat framemounting bracket in position of use; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 8,showing the mounting bracket in another position of use. 7

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the reference numeral I0 isemployed to generally designate a conventional bed or couch frame. Thisframe includes the usual end boards I I that are permanently joined toposts I2. Side rails I3 are removably attached, in any conventionalmanner, to the posts I2, such, for example, as with common rail hooks(not shown). Each side rail I3 is provided, along its lower inside edge,

with a cleat I4. In common practice, a number.

of slats are merely set into the bed frame to bridge the space betweenrails I3, the slat ends spaced, parallel relationship by at least twomem- Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view showing the bers I8 which arearranged at right angles to the slats and normally disposed lengthwiseof the bed frame and in fairly close proximity with the cleats I4. Anysuitable means may be used to permanently join slats I1 and members I8.Of course, the slat ends extend beyond the sides of the members in orderthat they may, when the slat frame is mounted, engage or overlie thecleats I4. It is to be particularly noted that each of the members I8mounts, on its upper surface, a number of brackets I9. Each of thesebrackets. includes a flat body portion H in which a slot 22 is made. Oneend of this portion terminates in a rightangle flange 23. Suitablemeans, such as a bolt 24 and wing nut 26, may be employed to secure thebracket to the member 18 in such a manner that the bracket may be movedwithin the limits of the length of slot 22 in order that the flange 23,when the slat frame is mounted, may occupy a position of contact withthe vertical edge of rail cleat l4 (see Figs. 4 and 5). A variation ofuse of the bracket 19 is shown in Fig. 6 wherein the bracket is invertedand, by reason of the length of slot 22, it may be moved to a positionsuch that the flange 23 thereof abuts the side rail I3 and the bodyportion rests on the cleat M. the bracket, it serves a common purpose;namely, that of preventing relative lateral movement or displacement ofthe slat frame with respect to the bed frame.

It is evident from the foregoing description that any bed frame may beprovided with the slat frame of the invention, and that followinginserting the slat frame into the bed frame with the slat ends on cleatsM, the brackets 59 may be moved to abut cleats M or rails l3 and sosecured by turning down nuts 26. Thus the rigidity inherent in the slatframe is transmitted to the bed frame, preventing the bed frame frombeing twisted from its normal rectangular form. These brackets alsoserve to prevent any displacement of the slat frame other than in adirection of removal and, in consequence, a spring and mattress may bereadily mounted thereon in proper relationship to the bed ends and siderails. A comparison of Figs. 2 and 3 suggests that the invention isapplicable to a bed frame in one or more units. That is, in Fig. 2, fourslats ll are permanently joined to members 18 that extend nearly thelength of the bed, whereas in Fig. 3, two slat frames are provided, themembers i8 being substantially half the length of the single framemember. Regardless of the, number of slat units, each unit includes itown set of at least four adjustable brackets and may be made to transmitits rigidity to the bed frame with which it is associated and beprevented from displacement.

Reference is now more particularly had to Figs. 7 to 10, inclusive, inwhich is shown a modification of the invention. The bed frame and slatframe are identical with the structure previously described andcorresponding parts thereof bear like reference numerals. It is thepurpose of this modification to locate the slat frame in an elevatedposition in order that the top surface of slat ll may be substantiallyflush with the top edges of the side rails l3. It frequently occurs indisplay rooms and in use, that the mattress is positioned too low. Moresuitable display of the bed structure, spring, and mattress, or moreconvenient use of the bed might be made if the slats, spring, andmattress were to be elevated several inches. To this end, each of theslats is provided with a mounting bracket 21. The bracket includes abody portion 28 in which a longitudinally extending slot 29 is made. Atone end the bracket terminates in a right angle flange 3!, and a smallopening is formed in this flange. It is proposed to attach each mountingbracket to the under side of each slat in any suitable manner, as by abolt and wing nut 32 and 33. The nut 33 preferably is located beneaththe slat so that it will not interfere with locating the spring on topof the slat frame. In the showing of Figs. 8 and 9, the mounting bracket27 is located in abutment with the entire vertical face of the rail l3,the lower end of the body portion 28 resting on the cleat l4. Should itbe desired to permanently dispose the slat frame in this raisedposition, the mount- However, in both positions of use of 4 ing bracketsneed not be attached in the manner shown to the slat ends, but can bepermanently joined to the side rail by projecting one or more woodscrews through the slot 29; Thus, the slat frame would be removable fromthe bed frame and the mounting brackets 2'! would be permanently joinedto the rails 13.

It will be noted that although the slat frame in this secondmodification is in an elevated position, the adjustable brackets I9function in a manner already described. Each of these brackets isadjustable to a position in which the flange 23 abuts side rail 13, andthus the slat frame, even though elevated, serves to transmit itsrigidity to the bed frame and will not be readily susceptible ofdisplacement.

In Fig. 10, a variation of use of the mounting bracket is shown. Hereinit is proposed to locate this bracket on top of the slat with the flange3| engaging the outer vertical face of the rail 13. In this manner thetop edge of the rail, rather than the cleat l4, carries the weight ofthe slat frame, spring, and mattress, and by adjusting the bracket I9, aclamping effect on the rail is produced.

Although applicant has shown and described two modifications of hisinvention and some variation in their application, it will be understoodthat other variations of use or modifications in the particular bracketstructure may be made and are contemplated insofar as they are withinthe spirit and scope-of the invention as set out in the annexed claim.

Having thus set forth my invention what I claim as new and for which Idesire protection by Letters Patent is:

In a bed frame structure having connected end and side rails and cleatscarried by and forming ledges on adjacent faces of said side rails; aslat frame comprising several parallel spaced apart slats disposedtransversely of the direction of the length of said side rails, saidslats being of such length that their ends overlie and rest upon theledges formed by said cleats, members permanently joined to and servingto secure said slats in their spaced apart relationship, said membersbeing disposed lengthwise of said bed frame structure and in nearproximity with said cleats, brackets on said slat frame, flanges on saidbrackets, means mounting said brackets for adjustment in a direction tocause abutment of said flanges with the innerv faces of said cleats,said mounting means having parts operable to secure said bracket flangesagainst movement out of their position of abutment with said cleats,said flanges being of such proportions as to provide a suflicient areaof contact with said cleats and transmit the rigidity of said slat frameto said bed frame.

ERNEST H. ANDERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 5,656 Hinckley July 5, 1848676,652 Barker June 18, 1901 791,388 Whitaker May 30, 1905 1,209,175Lathrop Dec. 19, 1916 1,600,524 Stackhouse Sept. 21, 1926 1,823,013 WanzSept. 15, 1931 1,958,088 Johnston May 8, 1934 2,226,172 Massacese Dec.24, 1940

